Targeted Distraction: Spinal Growth in Children With Early-Onset Scoliosis Treated With a Tail-gating Technique for Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods

STUDY DESIGN.Prospective cohort study OBJECTIVE.To understand the efficacy of a tail-gating technique (TGT) to mirror the normal spinal growth of children with early-onset scoliosis (EOS) treated with magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.MCGR allow outpatient distraction and guided spinal growth without the need for repeat surgery. Two techniques (maximal and targeted) are currently employed to determine the distraction amount, however the efficacy of each is unknown. This study specifically assesses the ability of targeted distraction to achieve physiological growth. METHODS.We performed a retrospective review of European children treated with MCGR using a TGT and analyzed the post-operative clinical and radiographic outcomes, including the sitting height, standing height, coronal Cobb angle, T1-T12 and T1-S1 height. Furthermore, we compared the post-operative sitting/standing height ratio every 6 months to those reported for normal age- and sex-matched European children. RESULTS.Thirty-five children were included with a mean follow-up of 3.4 years (1.8–5.8 years). All clinical and radiographic parameters significantly (P